Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 56: Willow

Chapter 56: Willow

Her hand was cold.

He squeezed it.

No spark.

No mystical glow. Nothing.

His heart sank.

Ava’s fingers remained limp in his grasp, her body still unresponsive, the beeping of the machines the only sign that she was still clinging to life.

Doctor Mary worked swiftly, her hands moving with practiced precision as she stabilized Ava. Every second counted.

She barely blinked, her mind running through an internal catalogue of poisons, toxins, and venoms, each with symptoms so eerily similar, yet so fatally different.

There were thousands and all she had was a guess.

Mary clenched her jaw. She couldn’t afford to be wrong. Administering an antidote blindly would be like rolling a dice with Ava’s life on the line.

Lucas knelt stiffly at Ava’s side. His grip on her hand was firm and desperate. His blue eyes that were usually sharp and unreadable were now dull and exhausted.

He looked broken. The weight of his grief hung in the air and pressed down in the room.

Mary had always known the alpha to be unshakable. A force of nature. An unmovable pillar of strength. Now, he looked like a man hanging by a thread.

Mary swallowed hard and forced herself to look away.

This wasn’t something she could fix.

There was no magic that could take away an Alpha’s pain.

She could only do her job.

She turned on her heel and walked out of the room, leaving Lucas alone with his grief.

Moments later, Zari entered, pausing in the doorway when she saw he was still there.

Damn it. She had been waiting for the right moment.

Ava’s antidote was ready, but she needed privacy to administer it.

There was always someone watching, someone hovering too close. If she made a move at the wrong time, everything could be ruined.

Zari’s sister was now free and had made it into hiding. The rest was up to her.

But how was she supposed to do anything when the Alpha refused to move?

Lucas sat motionless, still gripping Ava’s hand. His head was bowed slightly, the tension in his shoulders spoke volumes.

Zari cleared her throat softly. "Alpha?"

No response. She hesitated, then took a small step closer. "You should get some rest. I will look after her."

Lucas slowly lifted his head.

For a brief moment, she thought he might listen to her. That he might actually get some rest.

But then he ignored her.

Just like that.

Zari fought the urge to groan in frustration.

Instead, she stayed silent, watching as Lucas gently rubbed his thumb over Ava’s fingers.

His expression darkened, his lips parting slightly as though he wanted to say something.

But no words came out.

Zari could almost feel the weight of all the things he was holding back.

Things he had never said.

Things he should have said.

Things he was afraid to say out loud.

Lucas exhaled shakily and closed his eyes for a moment.

Then he whispered, so softly that she almost missed it.

"You changed me." His voice was raw, barely above a murmur. "You took my pain away. You... you healed me."

A muscle ticked in his jaw as he swallowed thickly.

"There’s so much I want to tell you," he admitted. "So much I still want you to know."

His grip on Ava’s hand tightened slightly.

"If you would just... open your eyes."

Zari looked away, her chest tightening.

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence.

Zari turned just as Kade entered the room.

His gaze flicked to Ava, and he coudn’t hide the anger in his eyes. This was all Lucas’s fault. Everything he touched he breaks. How was he the one dying a few hours ago and now Ava had taken his place.

If Ava had listened to him. He warned her she wasn’t safe. She should have eloped with him. they would have been happy.

But she had chosen Lucas. Because he was an alpha not because she loved him. and what had that earned her. Death?

Kade’s jaw clenched as he turned to the Alpha. "The council wants you."

Lucas didn’t move.

His grip on Ava’s hand didn’t loosen.

Kade tried again. "Now."

Lucas growled. The sound was low, dangerous, laced with irritation. He did not want to be disturbed.

"Why?" he demanded.

"They didn’t say, sir," Kade said, forcing himself to stay calm.

Lucas let out a slow, controlled breath. "Tell Dorian to attend to them."

Kade hesitated. Then, quietly, he said, "He’s not in the fortress. He’s following a lead."

Lucas’ eyes snapped to Kade’s.

His face darkened instantly.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath.

Lucas’s fingers curled into a fist, his entire body radiating frustration.

He turned sharply to Zari.

"Stay with her."

Zari nodded, her heart hammering in her chest.

Finally. Lucas left with Kade, his steps heavy, his aura dark.

And the moment the door closed behind them Zari got to work.

She moved quickly, pulling the small vial from her pocket.

Her hands were steady as she inserted the antidote into the IV bag.

One tiny vial.

That was all it took.

A single drop of hope against the tide of death.

As the liquid flowed into Ava’s bloodstream, Zari held her breath.

She had done it.

Now all she could do was wait.

And pray that she wasn’t too late.

*****

Ava lay on the damp forest floor, her head resting against the warm, solid body of her wolf. The scent of wet earth and pine surrounded her, mixing with the eerie quiet of the fog-covered trees. Everything felt strange.

She exhaled softly, her breath barely disturbing the still air. "I’m sorry you didn’t make it out," she whispered.

Her wolf huffed, the soft rumble vibrating against her back. "It’s okay," came the calm, reassuring voice in her mind. "You aren’t strong enough yet."

Ava squeezed her eyes shut. It was the truth, but it didn’t make the sting of failure any less painful. She had fought to break free, to survive. And yet, here she was, sprawled across a forest floor that she wasn’t sure even existed.

"I was trying," she murmured, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "I was getting stronger. I had so many things I planned to do."

Her fists clenched. So many things.

"I wanted to make them all pay," she admitted, her tone darkening. "Every single person that hurt me."

Her wolf was silent for a long moment before asking, "What changed?"

Ava let out a soft, bitter laugh, rolling onto her back to stare up at the swirling fog above. "I fell in love." She groaned. "I know, cliché, right?"

Her wolf made a low, amused sound.

Ava scoffed. "Oh, don’t you start. I can feel your judgment from here."

"I wasn’t judging," the wolf teased.

Ava huffed, rubbing her palms over her face. "I know! It’s ridiculous." She sighed, voice dropping into something softer. "But he’s... different."

"Different?" her wolf prompted.

Ava’s lips twitched. "He’s a lunatic."

Her wolf outright laughed.

Ava rolled her eyes. "I’m serious! I haven’t met anyone so evil and yet..." She trailed off, biting her lip.

"You love him," her wolf finished for her.

Ava groaned, dragging her hands down her face. "He drives me insane," she admitted. "I hate how much I need him. I hate how his presence is the only thing that makes me feel... whole."

The wolf tilted its head. "And when he touches you?"

Ava shivered.

The memory of his hands, his heat, the way her body betrayed her every time he was near made her stomach flip.

"I can’t breathe," she whispered.

The wolf chuckled, its fur soft against Ava’s cheek as it nuzzled her gently.

Ava sighed, shaking her head. "Oh, and you would have loved Manic."

"Manic?"

Ava grinned despite herself. "He thinks he’s some big, bad wolf. He’s not." She giggled. "He’s just a huge softie."

Her wolf made a thoughtful noise. "I think there may still be a chance for me to meet him."

Ava frowned. "What?"

The fog around them thinned, swirling as if some unseen force was pulling it away. The ground beneath her trembled, a deep, rumbling sensation that made her stomach lurch.

Ava bolted upright, her heart pounding.

"No," she said quickly, eyes darting around as the world around her started to blur. "No. You have to come with me."

Her wolf didn’t move.

"You will know when you are ready," it said simply.

Ava’s throat tightened. She wasn’t ready to lose this connection. Not again.

She reached out, fingers brushing through the thick, silver fur as panic clawed at her chest.

This wasn’t fair.

She had just found her.

She couldn’t lose her.

"Willow," she whispered.

Her wolf blinked. "What?"

"Your name." Ava’s voice was stronger now, her hands fisting into the soft fur. "It’s Willow."

The moment the words left her lips, it was like a lock clicking into place.

A ripple of acceptance washed over her, sinking into her bones, wrapping around her mind.

The connection between them solidified, deepened.

And then everything blurred.

The forest, the fog, the warmth beneath her was gone.

And Ava fell into darkness.

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